World Leaders Meet In Brussels For ‘European Development Days 2016’

World Affairs

Open Eyes Opinion

European Union

Key players from across the world come together for the 10th anniversary of European Development Days

Brussels, 14 June 2016

The European Development Days is a two day event in Brussels on 15-16 June to generate new ideas, take action and shape the future with world leaders, young leaders and hundreds of speakers, civil society organisations and international organisations.

Tomorrow the ”European Development Days 2016” (EDDs) will officially open its doors to a record number of over 6,000 development professionals from around 150 countries who will attend what has become Europe’s leading forum on global development and cooperation.

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: ”The 10th anniversary of the European Development Days is focused on results: turning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals from commitments into actions. This is Europe’s open invitation to the world to reflect with us how our policies, partnerships and resources can best be put into use to support global development, eradicate poverty once and for all, and shift our planet onto a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous path”.

This edition is of particular importance, since it marks 10 years of European Development Days. Often referred to as the ”Davos for Development”, the EDDs comes at a crucial time for the future of international development, shortly after the ”Agenda for Sustainable Development”, which is a universal framework to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030, was adopted in September 2015.

The European Development Days will focus on implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, building upon 5 vital ”P”s for sustainable development: Partnership, Peace, Prosperity, Planet and People.

Ahead of the event, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will meet the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, to sign a joint declaration “Towards an EU-Ethiopia Strategic Engagement”, which reflects the EU’s strong relations with Ethiopia, emphasising Ethiopia’s crucial role in Africa and the international community and its significant socio-economic development. The EU and Ethiopia will thereby elevate their 40 year partnership to an even more strategic level.

Another key moment ahead of the EDDs will be the adoption of a Joint Declaration by Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank and the European Commission, represented by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Kristalina Georgieva and Commissioner Mimica, on 14 June. This declaration represents a joint commitment to strengthening action in sustaining peace and increasing the impact in situations affected by fragility, conflict and violence.

Background

The European Development Days has become known as the flagship event for international development cooperation in the EU. Over the past 9 years, the ”Davos for Development”, as it is often referred to, has brought together an impressive 2670 speakers and as many as 100 World Leaders, 514 exhibitors and 42,000 participants from 154 countries, as well as 4,500 organisations.

This year the EDDs will promote youth as the driving force behind global development efforts and highlights the importance of engaging young people on the path to sustainability. By inviting young people aged 21 to 26 from around the world to join the debate on the future of international development cooperation, the European Commission aims to involve them in shaping future development policies. 16 Young Leaders have been invited from partner countries to bring fresh thinking to the debates about development policy and international cooperation.

The European Commission delegation will consist of the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy / Vice-President FedericaMogherini, Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.

The European Development Days 2016 will draw over 500 speakers and prominent decision makers, including representatives of international organisations such as Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank Group, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and numerous Heads of State, including Uhuru Kenyatta, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Rui Maria de Araújo, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, along with many others.

The EDDs will take place at the same time as the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), now in its 11th edition. Three winners will be revealed by Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy Miguel Arias Cañete, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Jerzy Buzek, Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, and by the Director General of the European Consumer Organisation, Monique Goyens, during the Award Ceremony on 14 June at the EUSEW Policy Conference.